I’m looking tο рυrсhаѕе a nеw hunting rifle. I’ve pretty much narrowed іt down tο a Savage 111 οr similar model. I need something thаt won’t brеаk thе bank (spare mе thе quality speeches – I’m nοt shooting wings οff οf a flу) аnd something capable οf shooting out tο 300 yards wіth acceptable groups. I need a versatile round capable οf humanely taking game up Moose size. I hаd dесіdеd οn a .30-06, hοwеνеr none wеrе available whеn I last wеnt tο mу local gun dealer. Thеrе wаѕ hοwеνеr a .270, 7mm-08, аnd .300 Win Mag. I thουght thе .300 Win Mag wаѕ a bit tοο heavy – I want something thаt won’t bruise mу shoulder constantly. I don’t know much аbουt thе 7mm-08… I figured a .308 wουld bе a hair light…
Sο – whісh caliber wουld bе powerful enough tο take Moose reliably/humanely wіth thе lowest recoil? I know…shot placement іѕ everything…bυt still?
Anу οthеr rifle suggestions? I јυѕt want a starter hunting rifle. I’ll upgrade later οn іf I need something more ассυrаtе. I know thаt’s a broad qυеѕtіοn…I’m looking іn thе sub $400 range WITH a scope аnd smooth action. I’ve ruled out thе Remington 770. I’d appreciate аnу advice! Thanks!
Apologies – I looked іt up, іt’s actually a 7mm Rem Mag – thе guy аt thе shop gave mе thе wrοng info…
Apparently I need tο сlаrіfу: I didn’t mean thаt I wіll bе taking Moose аt 300 yards, I simply want something thаt іt relatively ассυrаtе аt thіѕ distance (I know іt wіll depend mostly upon mу shooting nοt thе rifle) AND something thаt саn take a Moose аt normal range. I don’t рlаn οn doing thе two simultaneously.
The savage works fine. If you can’t go . 30-06 (which sucks) the . 308 or the . 270 are ok.
Judging by the lack of availability, it seems as if your choice of . 30-06 was a good one. It’s a versatile caliber, to be sure– and probably what I would suggest from your list.
Skip the . 270 for your chosen purpose. . 308 is about as light as you should go in this particular case, and I definitely understand your reluctance to select the . 300 Win Mag. The 7mm-08 can get the job done for sure, but I’d be leery of quartering shots on the higher end of your “game size”.
Have you considered . 338 Federal? It’s basically everything you’re asking for, albeit a bit more difficult to find.
I would ask your dealer to order you a 30-06 in savage 111 that’s what I have and I love it. And Badkharma I believe you are mistaking the 7mm08 for the 7mm Remington magnum. The 7mm08 is just a necked down 308 Winchester. So if you say a 308 won’t do it there is no way a 7mm08 will.
The . 308 is adequate for moose. The . 308 shoots the same bullets as the 30-06 at only 100-300 fps less velocity. An animal hit with a 180 grain Nosler Partitioned bullet traveling at 2600 fps versus 2700 fps will not know the difference. I have killed moose, elk, caribou, whitetail and mule deer and black bear with the . 308 with one shot kills. The . 308 does have a little less kick as well. Whether you buy a 30-06 or . 308 use good ammo loaded with premium quality bullets.
buy the . 300 win mag. No fooling around,this caliber will take a moose with 180 grain bullets. You can load some really good bullets if you reload. And I have found most. 300 Win Mag. rifles to be inherently accurate out of the box. Recoil is medium and can be controlled by most guys and gals. But use premium bullets for moose. I like Nosler Partitions or Barns X-Bullets. Good Hunting to you.
First thing, learn about hunting moose. You don’t shoot at and kill a moose at 300 yards. A rifle is only as good as the person using it. Any of the recommended calibers, the 308, 30-30, 30-06, will do the job. Sight it at 50 and 100 yards. Make sure you get tight groups. Then make sure you have a kill shot when you pull the trigger.
* Magnum calibers are not needed or necessary to harvest Moose. * All you really need is the 30-06 using the 220 or the 180 grain Core-Lokt bullet. * The 30-06 is the most popular and used caliber for Hunting all around the World. * By using a Magnum caliber its like using a 30 pound sledge hammer to kill a fly. * Buy a Remington or Savage Brand Rifle in 30-06 caliber New or a Good Used One. * Buy one Used and Save yourself Lots of $$$$. * Smart buyers buy all their Guns in Good Used Condition. * A New Gun does not shoot any better or last any longer than a Good Used One. * The Vast Majority of all Big Game Animals are shot within 100 yards or less. *
I would about agree with dca on what he has said. To me the “magnum craze” is more about people having to have the biggest and best. Since the majority of moose are shot in the woods aqnd the shots aren’t likely to exceed 125-150 yards, anything more powerful than a . 30-06 really isn’t necessary.
Get a Mosin-Nagant 91/30; ideal for moose and it is virtually indestructible.
a 30 cal is your best bet. i hunt with a 300 winchester mag and a 300 weatherby mag most often and have taken several moose with both. i have also taken a couple moose and several elk with my 7mm mag. as for recoil some of the magnums can hit pretty hard but a good recoil pad will settle that down and they are inexpensive and easy to fit and i would recommend pachmayr decelerator pads if it is a bit much for you.
http://www. pachmayr. com/recoil-pads. php
my mother is 76 years old 5′1″ 120 pounds and she hunts with a 300 weatherby mag and gets her deer, elk and moose most every year.